Kashmir largely peaceful, separatists’ march plan foiled

Barring some incidents of stone- pelting, situation in Kashmir was by and large peaceful on Friday with authorities imposing curfew in some parts of Srinagar district to foil separatists’ plan to take out a march.
In the evening, a petrol bomb was thrown towards security force personnel at Pritchoo in Pulwama district but there was no damage, a police spokesman said.
He said the situation remained under control throughout Kashmir on Friday.
After Friday prayers, some stone-pelting incidents were reported from Srinagar, Pulwama, Kulgam and Sopore, he said.
“At these places, miscreants assembled after Friday prayers and pelted stones on police and security force deployments. They were chased away,” the spokesman added.
“In view of ‘Jamia Masjid Chalo’ call given by some separatist organizations, restrictions were imposed as a precautionary measure in some parts of Srinagar,” he said.
Curfew was imposed in Nowhatta, Khanyar, Safakadal, Rainawari and Maharaj Gunj police station areas in old Srinagar and Batamaloo in uptown, a police official said.
There were no restrictions on movement of people elsewhere in Kashmir, the official said. However, curbs on assembly of people under Section 144 CrPc were in place in the Valley.
Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq tried to defy the curfew and take out the march but he was detained.
Soon after the separatist leader came out from his Nigeen residence, police took him into custody and lodged him at Nigeen police station, officials said.
The restrictions in parts of the city considerably brought down the movement of people and vehicles as much less traffic was seen on the roads in the civil lines and the outskirts of the city.
Meanwhile, normal life continued to remain affected in the the valley for the 112th day due to the separatist- sponsored strike.
Shops, petrol pumps and business establishments were shut while educational institutions continued to remain closed. Security forces have been deployed in strength at vulnerable spots and along the main roads as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order.